As great as Rangers start to the Old Firm game was yesterday, it was a false dawn as that was as good as it got.
Urgency, pace, pressing and incision – it was all there with the lovely team goal finished by Aaron Ramsey in the third minute encapsulating what appeared to be a Rangers team in the mood and ready to make a statement.
That would not be the case. Just a few minutes later, with Celtic’s equaliser, the pattern changed with the visitors finishing the first half stronger, importantly their final ball was causing trouble.
Into the second half, Rangers tried and got forward but repeated balls crossed into the box came to nothing. Celtic tired but were resolute in defence, the home team just could not find a way through with Kemar Roofe ineffectual, playing as the striker in place of Alfredo Morelos.
Rangers dominated possession and had eight shots on target, but outwith the goal, only Fashon Sakala’s late effort registers as a serious save required from Joe Hart.
The FT numbers… pic.twitter.com/cZv0hk5KeK
— The Rangers Review (@RangersReview55) April 3, 2022
Just one ‘big chance’ in the stats from Rangers Review, as above.
That is a major issue that will need to be remedied for the Scottish Cup showdown on Easter Sunday. Without Morelos, Gio van Bronckhorst’s side carry much less threat but the Colombian is very unlikely to return for Hampden.
With so much at stake and still plenty to play for, Rangers simply can’t afford for this end of season run-in to peak before it runs its course as yesterday’s encounter did.